Come Visit The Holland in 2010!

In addition to the wonderful guests arriving at the hotel,  each day we have the great pleasure of welcoming visitors that simply want to see the “new” Holland Hotel in Alpine. Many of them make it a point to tell us “Thank you for renovating this hotel”  – and that really makes our day! We hope you will come visit in the new year and help us restore The Holland to the social, cultural and Texas heritage destination it once was.  

Note the new signs on the hotel below – they are reproductions of the original signs done in 1930.   . . . and the original Holland Crest will be used in marketing the historic hotel.

New Signs

Original Holland Crest

The Holland Hotel is Open!

Mr. & Mrs. John Jones successfully opened The Holland Hotel this past weekend, November the 19th, amid the excitement of Artwalk in Alpine.  We had a full house Friday and Saturday, hundreds of visitors to our show room and Grand Lobby,  and have been entertaining guests and visitors each day since. The new decor has won great reviews – kudos go out to the  interior decorator – Meredith Gruben Bradley.  A special “thank you” goes out to the entire staff and support team at The Holland that worked tirelessly to make it all come together on time.

How about a few before and after shots . . .

Bedroom before

Bedroom AfterBath After

Staff Training an Adventure

As The Holland Hotel nears the finish of its revitalization and redecoration – the staff is also working hard on improving their skills and professionalism. There were “Texas Friendly” customer service workshops, drills on handling emergencies, and product knowledge classes – which included a field trip to visit the various outfitters in the Big Bend area. Each staff member is on a committee  with an assigned  “project” that they feel will help make the customer experience outstanding.  

But all work and no play makes for grumpy employees –  so occasionally a reason to “celebrate” is created and the cake, ice cream and pizza comes out! Today it was a “group” birthday celebration and the christening of the new  Guest Service area that put smiles on their faces.

Big Bend Field Trip

Staff Celebrates

New Front Desk

Special Big Bend Packages

Are you planning an adventure to Big Bend? . . . let The Holland Hotel make it historic!

We have added a new page to our web site – Rates and Packages and invite you to check out the new Online Reservation Service there, and the fun and adventurous packages  that include outings in the Big Bend area.  The Holland has combined the professional services  of the best outfitters in the area with our new rooms and amenities  – saving you money for the purchase of the total package. We plan on adding additional packages in the near future – for special events like honeymoons,  wedding showers, Star parties, Spa outings, and more. Please, call or email us for more information.

Hey, have you booked your spring break outings? Let The Holland Hotel help to make it historic!

Horseback Rides

A Day for You

Fun on the River

A Peek at the new Styling

Well, the hotel is starting to fill the nooks and storage areas with crates and bundles of furnishings, fixtures, appliances and accessories. However, everything is arriving so quickly now I hardly have a chance to see what the decorator and the owners are sending!  Our Grand Lobby area is filling up with items, so I thought I would show you what that looks like – and a couple of captures illustrating some of the colors, textures and furnishings you will see throughout the hotel when we open in November. 

I hope you all have made your reservations at The Holland during the winter season – it is one of my favorite in the Big Bend area  . . .

What's Under there?

Ah, the beauty unfolds

Guestroom revealed?

Views from The Holland

On this incredible blue sky day we get out here in Far West Texas – I thought I would take a break from the inside and show you a few of our great looking neighbors!

Across the street is a wonderful workout studio – and this is a shot of a few of the regulars that like to hang out – on the porch – not inside on the machines.  The shot of the Western  Tiger Swallowtail, a rare visitor this far east –  was taken outside my office window . . . what a nice view I have.  And then – just 15 minutes north on the road to Fort Davis (yes, 15 minutes!)  I saw a small herd of whitetail – stopped to look through my binoculars and  . . . WOW. .  . all bucks!

I will have several more special photos of the hotel improvements and restoration next week – things are really moving along now. See you then!

Happy Neighbors

Rare Neighbor

Regular Neighbors

 

Spanish Colonial Restored

Artist Meredith Bradley has been working to restore the original look of The Holland Hotel’s ceiling beams as designed by Trost & Trost in 1928.  The result is wonderful.

The photos below show the beams  with the red and green done in recent years – and the finished look today with the  original dark beams accented with gold. A great deal of this unique detail work may have slowed down the process to finish rooms by the middle of October – but as you can see – it will be worth it when the hotel is reopened!

german styling

Original Style

Artist at Work

Watch the changes at The Holland Hotel

News from from the GM at The Holland Hotel:
Some people have asked to see photos showing the transition from old to new, while we work to preserve the integrity of this historic landmark.  Let’s start with the guest room ceilings. The old falling acoustical and fluorescent (!) lights were removed and . . . voila! . . . A lovely ceiling to gaze at while rolling around in our new quality count bed linens. We wanted to return the ceilings to original height and finish – but previous owners laid electrical lines and conduit so that we were only able to raise the ceilings a few more inches. 

           

September 5, 2009

Hello from The Holland Hotel!

As the new General Manager for this unique historic hotel in west Texas  – I am proud to bring you updates on the restoration and revitalization as we head to our re-opening this fall.  Stay tuned for photos and comments about the hotel, plus information 0n events in fabulous Big Bend! 

~Keith Godwin

Original 1928 design The Holland Hotel 2009

 And a sneak peak at the almost finished exterior  – what do you think?

I don’t know which will be more impressive – the “new” Holland Hotel – or the scenery in Big Bend!